Input Device with Dynamic Display Function

ABSTRACT

An input device with dynamic display function comprises a panel, a interface unit, and a control module, wherein multiple buttons groups are mounted on the panel. Each buttons group has at least one button and one of the buttons group has at least two buttons. Every buttons has symbol marked thereon and the buttons in same buttons groups have identical symbol. The buttons from every buttons groups are randomly placed on the panel. Each button has a lighting unit being placed adjacently for lighting the button. The control module is electrically connected with the interface unit and the lighting unit. The control module lights up at least one lighting unit and its corresponding button in every buttons groups. The interface unit transfers a signal from lighting button when the button is being triggered. Since the buttons are randomly lit up by the control module in every operation, the users may safely input same password by touching or pressing different buttons to avoid any fingerprints or marks being left on same button and prevent peeking or secretly recorded by other people.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Present invention is related to an input device, especially to an inputdevice with dynamic display function.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Lock is an old invention for protecting people's properties and physicalsafety. A traditional key-lock pair is improved as a key-less electroniclock to prevent a duplicate of a stolen key. Conventional electroniclock has buttons to input a preset password for unlocking. The buttonsusually contain ten digital numbers from “0” to “9” being sequentiallyplaced at a fixed position on the electronic lock. Since the buttons arefixed, lock owner always presses same buttons when inputting thepassword. This will lead to fingerprints or marks being left on surfacesof those buttons. Thus, the password of the electronic lock becomeseasily to guess by other persons if they try to break into the lockowner's properties. Because certain buttons are always being pressed, itis also hard to prevent the password being guessed from peeking orsecretly recorded by other persons.

In order to solve disadvantages of fixed buttons of the conventionalelectronic lock as described above, a liquid crystal display (LCD) fordisplaying digital numbers has been utilized. Same digital number willrandomly be displayed in different position on the LCD in everyoperation. Thus, fingerprints or marks won't be left on the conventionalelectronic lock. However, the electronic lock with LCD consumes too muchpower and need to be charged or changed batteries frequently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve shortcomings of the conventional electronic lock withfixed buttons or LCD, an input device with dynamic display function ofthe present invention is required.

An input device with dynamic display function comprises a panel, aninterface unit and a control module. Multiple buttons groups areincluded in the panel. Each buttons group has at least one button andone of the buttons group has at least two buttons. Every buttons has asymbol marked thereon. The buttons in same buttons groups have identicalsymbol. The buttons from every buttons groups is randomly placed on thepanel. Each button has a lighting unit being placed adjacently forlighting the button. The control module is electrically connected withthe interface unit and the lighting unit. The control module lights upat least one lighting unit and its corresponding button in every buttonsgroups in every operation. The control module receives a signal from thebutton being triggered.

According to the above description, the present invention has advantagesas following.

1. Since the buttons are randomly lit up by the control module in everyoperation, the users may safely input same password by touching orpressing different buttons combination to avoid fingerprints left on thesame buttons and prevent peeking or secretly recorded by other people.

2. The present invention consumes less power than the conventional LCDtype electronic lock because the buttons of the present invention arenot necessary or seldom being all lit up in every operation. Battery maylast much longer in the present invention, so it is not necessary toreplace the batteries frequently. The present invention does not utilizeLCD, thus size and thickness is decreased in the present invention. Thismay facilitate the present invention being installed on any kind ofapplication such as electronic safe, locker or door lock.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a first embodiment of an input device withdynamic display function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of buttons of the first embodiment inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the third embodiment of the input devicewith dynamic display function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are an operational illustration of the firstembodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the third embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the fourth embodiment in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of the fifth embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is an operational illustration of the fifth embodiment inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of the sixth embodiment in accordance withthe present invention; and

FIG. 11 is an illustration of the seventh embodiment in accordance withthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an input device with dynamicdisplay function may be used for electronic safe, electronic lock,automated teller machine (ATM) and the like applications in accordancewith the present invention comprising a panel 1 and a control module 3being electrically connected to the panel 1. The panel 1 has at leasttwo button groups 10 and may have an interface unit 2. The at least twobuttons groups 10 are located on the panel 1. Each buttons group 10 hasat least one button 11. The button 11 in same buttons group 10 hasidentical symbol A marked thereon. The button 11 in different buttonsgroup 10 is marked with different symbol A. The button 11 may be but notlimited to an electrical thin film button, a mechanical button or adefine area of a touch panel. In a first embodiment of the presentinvention, ten buttons groups 10 and two special buttons 12 isdisclosed. Each buttons group 10 has three buttons 11 marked with thesame symbol A. The symbol A of this embodiment are numbers from “0”,“1”. . . to “9” in different buttons groups 10. The buttons 11 mountedon the panel 1 are all translucent for showing symbol A properly. Thebuttons 11 having same symbol A in same buttons group 10 are randomlyplaced on the panel 1. Two special buttons 12 are also translucent andhave symbols A of “*” and “#” marked thereon.

With reference to FIG. 2, multiple lighting units B being located behindthe panel 1 corresponding to each button 11 and the special buttons 12.Each lighting unit B comprises a light guide 13 and a light-emittingunit 14. The light guide 13 may be a film, a plate or the like elementfor guiding light. The light-emitting unit 14 can be a light-emittingdiode (LED), a bulb or the like element for emitting light. The lightguide 13 is respectively placed on back sides of each button 11 and eachspecial buttons 12. The light-emitting unit 14 is respectively placedadjacent to each light guide 13, thus the light-emitting unit 14 providelight output to enhance brightness of the button 11 and the specialbutton 12 to show the symbols A more clearly. The light-emitting unit 14of the light unit B may also be used directly to light the buttons 11without using the light guides 13.

The interface unit 2 transfers signals when the buttons 11 and the twospecial buttons 12 are touched by users. In this embodiment, theinterface unit 2 has multiple touch units 21, and each touch unit 21 isrespectively placed on the back side of each button 11 and the twospecial buttons 12. Thus, each touch units 21 is able to transfer thesignal when the buttons 11 or the two special buttons 12 are touched bythe users. The touch unit 21 may be but not limited to a switch or asensor on a printed circuit board (PCB). With reference to FIG. 3, asecond embodiment of the present invention is presented. The touch units21 of the interface unit 2 are sensors on PCB. The sensors may beproximity sensors or touch sensors placed on the back side of eachbuttons 11 and the two special buttons 12. The interface unit 2 may notbe necessary in this invention if the buttons 11 and special buttons 12are connected to the control module 3.

With reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, the control module3 is electrically connected to the light-emitting unit 14 and the touchunit 21. The control module 3 has a preset password 31 for unlocking.The control module 3 controls each light-emitting unit 14 being lightedor turned off. The control module 3 is able to randomly light up certainbuttons 11 and the two special buttons 12 for the users to input apassword corresponding to the preset password 31. Remaining buttons 11which not being lit up by the control module 3 are invalid and unable totransfer the signal even being touched or pressed by the users. FIG. 4shows only one button 11 in each buttons group 10 marked with symbols Aand the two special buttons 12 being lit up. The symbols A marked oneach lit button 11 are “0” to “9” in this embodiment. Remaining buttons11 are not lit up by the control module 3 and are invalided.

Numbers of the buttons 11 being lit up by the control module 3 in eachbuttons group 10 are not limited to only one as abovementionedembodiment. But at least one button 11 in each buttons group will be litup by the control module 3 in every operation. With reference to FIG. 5,besides one button 11 in each buttons group with the symbols A of “0” to“9” being lit up, extra two symbols A of “7”, one symbol A of “2” andone symbol A of “9” from different buttons groups 10 are also lit up bythe control module 3. In some circumstance, every button 11 in samebuttons group may all be lit up by the control module 3. Thus, users mayhave more choices to press or touch different buttons 11 with samesymbol A in order to prevent fingerprint being left on some specificbuttons 11 that being regularly touched or pressed.

The panel 1 has at least two buttons groups 10 mounted thereon. Numbersof the buttons 11 are at least one in every buttons groups 10, but oneof the buttons group 10 has at least two buttons 11. With reference toFIG. 6, a third embodiment of the present invention is presented. Thebuttons groups 10 having the button 11 marked with symbols A of “0”,“1”, “2”, “3”, “6” and “7” only have one button 11 therein. The buttonsgroups 10 having the button 11 marked with symbols A of “4”, “5”, “8”and “9” are otherwise have two buttons 11 therein. Arrangement of thebuttons groups 10 in this embodiment may reduce the numbers of buttons11 mounted on the panel 1 in order to minimize the size of the panel 1.The control module 3 still can randomly lit up one of the button 11 indifferent buttons groups 10 marked with symbols A of “0” to “9” and twospecial buttons 12 for the users to input the password properly.

Since the buttons 11 are randomly lit up by the control module 3 inevery operation, the users may safely input the same password bytouching or pressing different buttons 11 to avoid any fingerprint beingleft on the same button 11 and prevent peeking by other people.Furthermore, the present invention consumes less power than theconventional LCD type electronic lock because the buttons 11 of thepresent invention are not necessary or seldom being all lit up in everyoperation. Battery may last much longer in the present invention toreduce the troublesome of replacing batteries frequently. The presentinvention does not utilize LCD screen for display which can reduce thesize and thickness of the present invention. The present invention isable to be installed on applications such as door lock system, locker orthe like.

When the user press or touch the buttons 11 that being lit up, thecontrol module 3 receives the signals from the interface unit 2 ordirectly from the buttons 11 being touched. The control module 3compares the signals with the preset password 31 and output anothersignal for showing a result of comparation. The control module 3 willoutput the result like showing “correct input” if the user has input thepassword matching the preset one 31, or showing “error input” will beoutput. The result of “correct input” and “error input” may come alongwith actions of unlocking or keeping locked. The control module 3 mayalso output a control signal to directly unlocking if the user has inputthe password matching the preset one 31.

Because the buttons 11 are all be fixed on the panel 1, the controlmodule 3 may simply be a microprocessor to control all actions of thepresent invention. Expensive micro-processor or complicated circuitcontrol is not necessary for the present invention. Thus, the presentinvention is able to produce with low cost, is also low powerconsumption and is stable in use.

The symbols A of the present invention are not limited to be digitalnumbers as abovementioned embodiments. With reference to FIG. 7, a forthembodiment of the present invention shows that the symbols A marked onthe buttons 11 may also be English letters or other patterns.

With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 8 to FIG. 11, the panel 1 of thepresent invention can be designed in any shape as desired like rectangleshape in FIG. 1, oval shape in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, triangle shape in FIG.10 and round shape in FIG. 11. Numbers and positions of the buttons 11may be adjusted with the shape of the panel 1. For example, the fifthembodiment of the present invention in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 shows twentybuttons 11 and two special buttons 12 being mounted on the panel 1 withoval shape. These twenty buttons 11 are presented as ten buttons groups10 marked with symbols A from “0” to “9”. Each buttons group 10 has twoidentical symbols A. FIG. 9 shows that one of the button 11 in eachbuttons groups 10 and two special buttons 12 are lit up for pressing ortouching.

According to the above description, the present invention has advantagesas following.

1. Since the buttons 11 are randomly lit up by the control module 3 inevery operation, the users may safely input same password by touching orpressing different buttons 11 to avoid any fingerprint being left onsame button 11 and prevent peeking or secretly recorded by other people.

2. The present invention consumes less power than the conventional LCEtype lock because the buttons 11 of the present invention are notnecessary or seldom being all lit up in every operation. Powers may lastmuch longer if using batteries as power supply for the presentinvention, so it is not necessary to replace the batteries sofrequently. The present invention does not utilize LCD screen fordisplay which can reduce the size and thickness of the presentinvention. This may facilitate the present invention being installed onany kind of application such as electronic safe, locker or door lock.

What is claimed is:
 1. An input device with dynamic display functioncomprising a panel, and a control module, wherein: multiple buttonsgroups are located on the panel; each buttons group has at least onebutton; one of the buttons group has at least two buttons; every buttonshas a symbol marked thereon; the buttons of one buttons groups haveidentical symbol; each button has a lighting unit being placedcorresponding to and being used for lighting the button; the controlmodule is electrically coupled with the buttons and the lighting unit;the control module randomly lights up at least one lighting unit and itscorresponding button in every buttons groups in every operation; and thecontrol module receives a signal from the button being triggered.
 2. Theinput device with dynamic display function as claimed in claim 1,wherein the control module has a preset password for comparing thesignal and output another signal for showing a result of comparation. 3.The input device with dynamic display function as claimed in claim 1,wherein the symbol marked on the button comprises digital numbers,English letters or patterns.
 4. The input device with dynamic displayfunction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lighting unit comprises alight guide and a light-emitting unit; the light guide is placed on aback side of each button for guiding a light came from thelight-emitting unit; and the light-emitting unit is electricallyconnected with the control module.
 5. The input device with dynamicdisplay function as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lighting unitcomprises a light guide and a light-emitting unit; the light guide isplaced on a back side of each button for guiding a light came from thelight-emitting unit; and the light-emitting unit is electricallyconnected with the control module.
 6. The input device with dynamicdisplay function as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lighting unitcomprises a light guide and a light-emitting unit; the light guide isplaced on a back side of each button for guiding a light came from thelight-emitting unit; and the light-emitting unit is electricallyconnected with the control module.
 7. The input device with dynamicdisplay function as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input device has aninterface unit being electronically connected to the control module andthe panel, the interface unit transfers the signal to the controlmodule, the interface unit comprises a touch unit placed on a back sideof each button, the touch unit is a switch.
 8. The input device withdynamic display function as claimed in claim 2, wherein the input devicehas an interface unit being electronically connected to the controlmodule and the panel, the interface unit transfers the signal to thecontrol module, the interface unit comprises a touch unit placed on aback side of each button, the touch unit is a switch.
 9. The inputdevice with dynamic display function as claimed in claim 3, wherein theinput device has an interface unit being electronically connected to thecontrol module and the panel, the interface unit transfers the signal tothe control module, the interface unit comprises a touch unit placed ona back side of each button, the touch unit is a switch.
 10. The inputdevice with dynamic display function as claimed in claim 1, wherein theinput device has an interface unit being electronically connected to thecontrol module and the panel, the interface unit transfers the signal tothe control module, the interface unit comprises a touch unit placed ona back side of each button, the touch unit is a sensor on a printedcircuit board.
 11. The input device with dynamic display function asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the input device has an interface unit beingelectronically connected to the control module and the panel, theinterface unit transfers the signal to the control module, the interfaceunit comprises a touch unit placed on a back side of each button, thetouch unit is a sensor on a printed circuit board.
 12. The input devicewith dynamic display function as claimed in claim 3, wherein the inputdevice has an interface unit being electronically connected to thecontrol module and the panel, the interface unit transfers the signal tothe control module, the interface unit comprises a touch unit placed ona back side of each button, the touch unit is a sensor on a printedcircuit board.
 13. The input device with dynamic display function asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the control module output the signal forunlocking.
 14. The input device with dynamic display function as claimedin claim 3, wherein the control module output the signal for unlocking.15. The input device with dynamic display function as claimed in claim1, the buttons from every buttons groups being randomly placed on thepanel.